Sargocentron spiniferum

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Sargocentron spiniferum
Pez ardilla gigante (Sargocentron spiniferum), mar Rojo, Egipto, 2023-04-15, DD 71.jpg
Sargocentron spiniferum in the Red Sea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Holocentriformes
Family: Holocentridae
Genus: Sargocentron
Species:
S. spiniferum
Binomial name
Sargocentron spiniferum
(Forsskål, 1775)

Sargocentron spiniferum, common name sabre squirrelfish, giant squirrelfish and spiny squirrelfish, is a large Indo-Pacific species of squirrelfish belonging to the family Holocentridae.

Contents

Description

Sargocentron spiniferum is the largest squirrelfish in its range and can reach up to 51 cm (20 in) in length and 2.6 kg (5.7 lb) in weight (the Atlantic Holocentrus adscensionis can surpass the length, but it is slimmer). [1] [2] A more common length for S. spiniferum is 35 cm (14 in). [1] The body is oval and laterally compressed. The head has a pointed snout and large eyes, being largely nocturnal. The basic colour is bright red. It has silver scale margins, a spinous dorsal fin and a large deep red patch just behind the eyes. The lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. It bears a very long preopercle spine (near the gill-opening). The anal and ventral fins are yellowish. The caudal fin is clearly bifid.

Distribution

This species is widespread throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean up to Hawaii, Japan and southern Australia.

Habitat

This squirrelfish can be found in tropical waters on coral reefs, from shallow water to a depth of 120 m (390 ft).

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<i>Sargocentron microstoma</i> Species of fish

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References

  1. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2015). "Sargocentron spiniferum" in FishBase . March 2015 version.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2015). "Holocentrus adscensionis" in FishBase . March 2015 version.